Day: December 7, 2018

Another mission is over. Three crew members will carry on an extended mission for a few days.

Short missions have different challenges compared to longer missions. Here, adaption to this environment is predominant to the effects induced by isolation, as more time is needed to manifest such effects in the crew dynamics. However, you can still get science out of it! An example. The leadership approach is completely different.

My crew has interestingly connected their projects where energy is the main topic. During this week, we have investigated energy in engineering, science, agriculture and arts!

Then, active conversations about the future of space exploration started when answering to kid’s questions about space. From one of this questions, it appears that a few kids think that only men can be trained as astronauts. I do not blame them, I guess it depends on the family.

I recognize the importance of out-reach and STEAM in education. However, parents or relatives should also be educated to recognize the current progress of science, otherwise all the investments in STEAM might not have a long-term impact in our society.

An example. Female astronauts exist. Female Commanders too! A good change can be produced investing in programs that teach to men how to work with women and vice-versa. Reminding the importance of women in our society is a bit limited, as it does not directly imply that a good interaction between employees or collaborators can be established.

It has brought me so much joy to be a part of this successful mission.
I will miss the uplifting team dynamics of this international crew.
There were countless times when I was reminded that the power of our
diverse team was more than the sum of its individual members.
Embarking on EVAs always comes with a risk and team members
continuously helped one other climb geographical features and cross
slippery areas. Even though each of us entered this mission with our
own research projects, neat interdisciplinary projects were formed
during the mission. A study investigating the strength of concrete
built from Earth sand versus Martian soil and a study examining the
heat transfer of the habitat using an infrared camera morphed into a
proposal to study the heat transfer properties of concrete built from
Earth sand versus Martian soil. Sharing our ideas and resources has
made this mission a success.

Today, we continued answering questions from school children from
Qatar. It was endearing to be asked by an eager student if there is a
school on Mars. While some questions were light-hearted, others were
more philosophical and we returned to discussions on the ethics of
terraforming another planet and how or whether resource management and
human rights could be improved today on Earth and one day on other
planets. As we prepare to conclude our mission, I cannot help but feel
inspired and impressed by the example of international collaboration
and volunteer efforts here at MDRS. Indeed, the MDRS represents
successful teamwork at a larger level than Crew 200. Thank you for
welcoming the seven of us crew members to be a part of this mission.

Notes on rovers: Rovers were not used or moved since Sunday, in charge from Sunday afternoon.
# Hours the ATVs were Used today: 0
Notes on ATVs: ATVs were taken out of active service and are now parked away from the station

HabCar used and why, where? No
CrewCar used and why, where? No

General notes and comments: when switching on the generator, the transfer button in the Science Dome (to connect the generator on the power system) is not always working at the first try, I have to pay attention at the sound change and the positive voltage displayed on the scren.

Summary of internet: Nothing to report.

Summary of suits and radios: Suit 3 does not seem to work, there is also a charger that is blinking (I’m not sure it is charging well). I will investigate.

Narrative:
Decided on format for outreach experiment, planted the sunflower seeds
and alfalfa. Last day with the full crew, so we are having a fresh
salad!

Harvest:
69g mixed salad greens

Support/Supplies Needed:
One of the raised beds of mixed salad greens is having some wilting,
while the one I harvested is thriving. I’ve been watering both the
same, but it seemed to be showing signs of this for the past week.
I also need a more accurate way to take the height of the water level.
It is hard for me (and even another crew member) to tell the level
just from tapping it. A level sensor or a pressure sensor would be a
good addition to the Greenhouse.

Summary Events: Final day of Sim for Whole Crew. Day focused on completing projects

Author’s name: Oakley Jennings-Fast

Mission Status: Nominal

Sol Activity Summary: Engineering check completed with Crew Engineer and Crew Astronomer. Each crew member focused on completing their projects. The crew members, who completed their projects, aided the others in their projects. Crew Astronomer taught two of the crew members who are staying for a second week of sim how to run the Solar Observatory. Fresh lettuce was harvested for the crews’ final meal all together on sim.

Look Ahead Plan: Midnight tonight, we will end sim. Tomorrow midday, 4 crew members will go back to Grand Junction to fly home on Sunday. Three crew members are staying an additional week and have coordinated with Shannon.

Anomalies in work: None.

Weather: Cloudy, no precipitation

Crew Physical Status: Nominal

EVA: None

Reports to be filed: N/A

Support Requested: None

Field Season #18

About The MDRS

The Mars Desert Research Station in the Utah desert was established by the Mars Society in 2001 to better educate researchers, students and the general public about how humans can survive on the Red Planet. It is the second Mars analogue habitat after the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station was established in 2000.

Over 200 crews of six-person teams have lived in 1-2 week field visits at MDRS to simulate life on the Martian surface. Researchers and students alike have explored the Mars-like terrain in the area surrounding the station in full “spacesuits”, maintained the station’s systems, grown plants in the GreenHab to support themselves and even recycled their waste water.

Our activities at MDRS are not only about informing the public, but also conducting real research to bring humanity that much closer to the reality of human exploration on the planet Mars.

Annual field seasons at MDRS run approx. October through May. Anybody can apply to be on a crew, and we also need volunteers to help with the project.